Diabetic man's arrest by N.J. state police: Readers respond

Andre Malok/The Star-LedgerDaniel Fried, 46, of Springfield, Pa., ended up in a struggle with New Jersey State Police after he pulled himself over in his van in November 2010 on Route 72 in Burlington County because he had gone into diabetic shock.

Train cops on mental illness

In response to “Diabetic’s arrest now draws concern,” I applaud our lawmakers’ call for training for state troopers to prevent inappropriate arrests of individuals experiencing diabetic shock. Education is equally critical to prevent police from wrongly incarcerating individuals with mental illnesses.

Mental illness can lead to withdrawal and unresponsiveness, hallucinations, outbursts of anger or anxiety. Officers must recognize such behaviors as potentially related to mental illnesses and approach individuals calmly. The needed understanding and techniques can be gained through Crisis Intervention Team training.

Several behavioral health care providers in New Jersey offer CIT training. Consumers are diverted from jail and spend less time in crisis units, where they are linked to appropriate treatment services.

It is imperative that CIT training be offered statewide. Individuals with mental illnesses deserve opportunities to receive appropriate services. Putting them in jail is inhumane and impedes their chances for recovery.

Video interview with Pennsylvania man who went into diabetic shock and was accosted by New Jersey State Police in Woodland, N.J.On Nov. 20, 2010, Daniel Fried, 46, of Springfield, Pa., was driving home from his shore house on Long Beach Island when he suffered low blood sugar and pulled over. State Police Trooper Paul Brown responded to a report of an erratic driver, found Fried's van on the side of Route 72 in Woodland Township and suspected he may be suffering from diabetes. But when a second trooper, Scott Tetzlaff, arrived, Brown did not mention his suspicion of a medical problem or the odd symptoms Fried was displaying. Fried was hit with a baton and his wrist was broken. Fried and his attorney have filed a federal lawsuit. (Video by Andre Malok / The Star-Ledger) The video from the police car dashboard camera is here.

Humane policing

The Oct. 18 Star-Ledger included two items that illustrate contrasting approaches to how government should interact with its citizens.

The first item was a letter to the editor (“Above and beyond”) describing how staff at the Motor Vehicle Commission were “compassionate beyond belief” in assisting a man in changing the registration on a car that had been registered in the name of his wife, who had just passed away.

The second item was a news article (“Diabetic’s arrest now draws concern”) about the arrest of a man experiencing diabetic shock behind the wheel. The article revealed, among other things, that state troopers refused to bring him juice from his van, which would have stabilized him. This took place despite the fact, according to court records, that one of the state troopers suspected the man had diabetes. The charges against the man were later dismissed.

This problem will not be completely solved by educating police officers about diabetes, as important as that is. What is needed is a police culture that recognizes even someone under arrest deserves humane treatment. It is not their role to decide on and impose punishment.